Workshop focuses on the crucial 150 days around calving

ALLTECH, KEENAN and InTouch, Alltech’s on-farm nutrition support service, are hosting three interactive farm workshops, ‘Focus for 150’, this winter.

The workshop for the southwest region will take place on Galvin’s farm in Finuge on December 4 at 11am.

The workshops will focus on the crucial 150 days around calving, beginning with cows drying off through early lactation and breeding.

“The 50 days before and the 100 days after calving is the most critical time of year for Irish farmers,” said Alltech Ireland country manager Cathal McCormack.

“Getting it right during these 150 days will have a huge, positive impact for the rest of the year, regardless of what time of year the farm is calving”.

No matter what phase the cow may be at within the 150-day plan, InTouch always focuses on the four key pillars of dry cow management: body-condition score (BCS), optimal pre-calving minerals, management, and close up feeding nutrition.

For the workshops, InTouch nutritionists will deliver on these four key pillars in relation to the dry-cow period to help prepare farmers for easy, stress-free calving, which can set up their herds for successful lactation.

The workshops will also include a live working model demonstration from KEENAN to coincide with their latest campaign, ‘ The Result is in the Mix’. Farmers will have the opportunity to learn about the effective feed processing with the KEENAN MechFiber paddle mixer, and the vertical auger.

KEENAN representatives will be available to showcase the importance of mix quality in delivery increases in herd performance and heard health.

“We all know that this year has been particularly tough for farmers, who are now being forced to use alternative forages for feeding this winter,” said KEENAN UK and Ireland manager James Brough.

“No matter what feed and forages you use, there are two things that are always crucial: the quality and consistency of the mix.”.

Alltech and InTouch representatives will present on every aspect of the dry-cow cycle, including body-condition scoring, minerals, management and nutrition.

KEENAN representatives will be available to give advice on feed planning and balancing. The team will also share advice on how KEENAN’s machine range achieves a precision mix and how farmers can avoid